McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Chapter 7A

Operating System
Basics

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Functions of Operating Systems
• Provide a user interface
• Run programs
• Manage hardware devices
• Organized file storage

7A-3
Types of Operating Systems
• Real-time operating system
– Very fast small OS
– Built into a device
– Respond quickly to user input
– MP3 players, Medical devices
Types of Operating Systems
• Single user/Single tasking OS
– One user works on the system
– Performs one task at a time
– MS-DOS and Palm OS
– Take up little space on disk
– Run on inexpensive computers
Types of Operating Systems
• Single user/Multitasking OS
– User performs many tasks at once
– Most common form of OS
– Windows XP and OS X
– Require expensive computers
– Tend to be complex
Types of Operating Systems
• Multi user/Multitasking OS
– Many users connect to one computer
– Each user has a unique session
– UNIX, Linux, and VMS
– Maintenance can be easy
– Requires a powerful computer
Multi user/Multi tasking OS
Providing a User Interface
• Graphical user interface (GUI)
– Most common interface
• Windows, OS X, Gnome
– Uses a mouse to control objects
– Uses a desktop metaphor
– Shortcuts open programs or documents
– Open documents have additional objects
– Task switching
– Dialog boxes allow directed input
Graphical User Interface
Providing a User Interface
• Command line interfaces
– Older interface
• DOS, Linux, UNIX
– User types commands at a prompt
– User must remember all commands
– Included in all GUIs
Command Line Interface
 Managing Hardware
• Programs need to access hardware
• Interrupts
– CPU is stopped
– Hardware device is accessed
• Device drivers control the hardware
Organizing Files and Folders
• Organized storage
• Long file names
• Folders can be created and nested
• All storage devices work consistently
 Enhancing an OS
• Utilities
– Provide services not included with OS
– Goes beyond the four functions
– Firewall, anti-virus and compression
– Prices vary
 Chapter 7A

End of Chapter

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.